Horror Favourites – Nuhash Humayun

The end of the world forces two sisters together, inside a mosquito net (moshari), just to survive—but first they must survive each other. Nuhash Humayun’s MOSHARI will have its UK Premiere next Saturday 15 October at BFI London Film Festival and we managed to talk to the brilliant director about his movie and more..

An Award-winning Bangladeshi writer and director Nuhash Humayun ponders why, when we see the end of the world, alien invasions, or a horrific zombie apocalypse in movies, it’s inevitably in a city like New York or London – what’s happening in Dhaka, Bangladesh? He addresses that question in his short film MOSHARI, due to have its UK Premiere at the prestigious BFI London Film Festival 2022.

Inspired by the devastating effects of climate change in Bangladesh, it’s the story of two sisters seeking shelter under a moshari (mosquito net) in a strange new world; while battling their own inner demons. This short film won the Grand Jury prize when it premiered at SXSW, its numerous other accolades include the Best Horror Award at Hollyshorts Film Festival, and as a result it can now be considered for an Oscar® – making it the first ever Bangladeshi film to be Oscar®-qualified.

Nuhash said “Bangladesh is often portrayed for its poverty, oppression or cheap labour. And while those things exist, they make us survivors. And as survivors, we have powerful stories to tell. My goal is to portray South Asia free from stereotypes and assumptions. Our Bangladeshi cast and crew represent our inherent resilience in the face of global disaster. In the ongoing conversation about climate change, it is vital that our voices are heard.”

So what is Nuhash’s horror favourite? “LIGHTS OUT, the 2013 short film, messed me up. I know Horror Favourites are usually features but this under 3 minute short was life-changingly scary.

“I still remember all my friends going, ‘hey there’s this really freaky video you have to check out.’ Even the way I found out about it felt Blair Witch-ian. We switched the lights off and gathered around a laptop connected to a Bluetooth speaker to play the film. The premise was brilliantly simple. David F Sandberg slowly builds the tension and before you realise it, you’re sick to the stomach. There’s a fantastically effective jumpscare, but it menacingly waits for the right time to attack your senses – the very final frame of the film.

“The reason I call this film ‘life changingly scary’ is I still sleep with the lights on since seeing it. This goddamn thing shook me to the core and to this day sometimes I find myself in bed thinking – if I turn the other way, I’ll see the messed-up face of that darkness-creature. It changed my life in another way too. Sandberg was a Swedish filmmaker but his terrifyingly viral short crossed borders and he was soon making films in Hollywood. It was weirdly inspirational. I had his story at the back of my mind while making my Bangladeshi horror film MOSHARI, which eventually became the first Oscar qualified Bangladeshi film in history.”

MOSHARI has its UK Premiere at the BFI London Film Festival as part of “Feel the Rush of Adrenalin” programme on Saturday 15 October. https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/